A methodology is presented for the purification of zircon (zirconium silicate-ZrSiO4) extracted from beach sand from Baja California Sur, Mexico. Structural characterization was performed using X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscopy, infrared and thermogravimetric analysis. The structure simulation was done with Cerius software to compare with the experimental data. Surface characterization was performed by surface area, isoelectric point and surface site density techniques. ZrSiO4 was easily and economically obtained from beach sand, was of high purity, and possessed useful characteristics for carrying out studies on sorption of some lanthanides and actinides. Due to its purity and abundance, the use of zircon is recommended for making containment barriers for the confinement of radioactive wastes